Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the Nigerian Senate over its rejection of real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing the move as a major setback to electoral transparency and democratic credibility.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku said, “The decision of the Nigerian Senate, @NGRSenate, to reject the real-time electronic transmission of election results is a deliberate assault on electoral transparency.” He warned that the action undermines public trust and weakens ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, the Senate’s position represents “a grave setback for electoral reform and a calculated blow against transparency, credibility, and public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process.” Atiku noted that while democracies around the world are strengthening their electoral systems through technology, Nigeria appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
The former vice president argued that electronic transmission of results should not be politicised, stressing that “Real-time electronic transmission of results is not a partisan demand; it is a democratic safeguard.” He added that the system reduces human interference, limits manipulation, and ensures that votes cast at polling units are accurately reflected in final results.
Atiku further criticised the Senate’s reliance on what he described as a cosmetic provision in the existing electoral law, stating, “To reject it, and adopt what is obviously a face-saving provision of the 2022 Act on electronic transmission of results is to signal an unwillingness to submit elections to public scrutiny.”
Raising concerns ahead of the 2027 general elections, he said the decision “raises troubling questions about the commitment of the ruling political establishment to free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.” He warned that Nigeria has developed a pattern where transparency-driven reforms are resisted, while ambiguities that favour incumbency are retained.
Reaffirming his long-held position on democratic evolution, Atiku said, “I have consistently maintained that democracy must evolve with time, technology, and the legitimate expectations of the people.” He cautioned against elections being decided by “manual delays, backroom alterations, procedural excuses or even by the courts, which section is shamelessly standing on the mandate of the incumbent.”
He called on stakeholders at home and abroad to remain vigilant, urging, “I call on Nigerians, civil society organizations, the media, and the international community to take note of this regression and to continue demanding an electoral system that reflects modern democratic standards.”
Atiku concluded by stressing that Nigeria deserves nothing less than credible elections, saying, “Nigeria deserves elections that are transparent, verifiable, and beyond manipulation. Anything less is an injustice to the electorate and a betrayal of democracy.”